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July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | the horse becomes a giraffe?
How much can you change a guitar before it's not that model anymore? I'm wondering what the opinions will be as I'm thinking about possible changes for my 97C.
Conservative folks will say that any change makes it not a 97C anymore. But I'd like other opinions:
If you swap a carved bridge for the plain jane bridge, is is still a 97C?
If you have it done in a burst is it a 97C anymore?
If you put an Elite-style top on it, then I'd have a hard time calling it a 97C. (So there is a limit, even in my mind..)
Abalone trim still a 97C?
And if one change is OK, how about 3 changes?
Let the discussions begin. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | If you change cosmetics, it still retains the soul of what it is. (ie a paint job / bling)
If you change its content, it is something else. (Elite style top) |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | At some point enough is enough ... Michael Jackson comes to mind.
But weather you call it a 97C or not has no meaning, it's just a name. If it makes you happy to do the changes you've proposed than do it. Everyone elses poion is just noise. |
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August 2007
Posts: 1008
Location: Tuscany, Italy | I'm a bit conservative and trying to keep the horse not being a giraffe. Whenever you get a specific model is because you like the way it is. If you want another guitar get a new one that suits you more. Personally I'll try to keep the orinality of a specific model. But this is me. As Dave said if this makes you happy than do it. |
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December 2001
Posts: 7211
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | FWIW..
- If it's a cosmetic change, than it's still essentially the same model, just customized.
- If it's been changed on some structural level, then it's a new model.
I'd say changing a top is structural. |
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June 2008
Posts: 31
Location: alabama | I definitely agree with what's been said...It's kinda like a car. You take a honda and put a body kit on it and paint it, and you still got a honda. You take the body off a honda and put it on a 4WD Z71, and you have something that really has no identity.
My question is why you would want to completely change a C? Obviously bc you want it the way you want it...but, if it were me, I wouldn't change it in such a way to where it's not even a 'C' anymore. If I were to do drastic changes, i.e. a new top, I would just buy a decent O and start with something thats not so valuable - or rare - to create my own... |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | If you're doing it to resell down the road, save your money.
If it's gonna be a keeper and you want to personalize it and make it "YOUR" guitar, the go for it and be happy. |
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Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | Several years ago I bought a 97C that had a large top crack and a couple of smaller cracks. I fixed the cracks, and I really like the guitar, but it's kind of plain looking, and I'm not partial to natural tops. It's going back to Mother for a new top, and I am inclined to add some color, a carved bridge, and maybe some trim to dress her up a tad.
Like Gallerinski says - Having the "only one" is OK as long as I like it. |
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January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | This is known as The Ship of Theseus Paradox.
(The Classicist in me comes out...) |
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January 2006
Posts: 1112
Location: NW Washington State | From the Wikipedia article: "George Washington's axe" (sometimes "my grandfather's axe") is the subject of an apocryphal story of unknown origin in which the famous artifact is "still George Washington's axe" despite having had both its head and handle replaced.
I didn't know that George played! |
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July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | Holy Moses, this is getting deep.
I'm going to get edumacated if I'm not careful. |
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March 2007
Posts: 840
Location: CA | What Gallerinski said — the Michael Jackson analogy is priceless.
Another is that these days the aftermarket is so big that you can literally build an entire 1932 Ford — and register it as one — without using a single part made by Ford in 1932 (or any other year for that matter). Is such a car REALLY a '32 Ford?
I think what you're doing is kinda like hot rodding an original '32. It's still the real thing, only better.
BTW, photos will be required upon the 97C's return. And be sure to take some 'before's so we can ooh and ahh in all the proper places. Ha ha ha. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | A horse is a horse till it becomes a llama, and then you take it home. |
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March 2007
Posts: 840
Location: CA | Or maybe it will become . . .
(are you ready?)
A horse with no name! |
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November 2005
Posts: 4817
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by Oddball:
What Gallerinski said — the Michael Jackson analogy is priceless. ..and pretty philosophical all at the same time!
In fact, you may not be YOU at all as all your cells are probably less than 10 years old....so, when did you stop being you? |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Moody has an 87C where the only original parts are the tuners and the label. But to him it is still an 87C ... and it sure seems like one to me, too. |
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February 2008
Posts: 747
| Originally posted by Oddball:
... the aftermarket is so big that you can literally build an entire 1932 Ford — and register it as one — without using a single part made by Ford in 1932 (or any other year for that matter). Is such a car REALLY a '32 Ford?
Did they have VIN tags or some such back then ?
I'd say it's not a 32 unless it has the VIN from 32. Anything else would be a replica but if you have the tag then you can replace any part from there back and it would still be the original vehicle - even though it is effectively brand new..lol |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | My Pacemaker is totally different from the neck heel on down.
Illegal Bracing and Non-standard Color.
But it still does have the Original VIN tag and Silver nameplate. |
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March 2005
Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | My Pacemaker is totally different from the neck heel on down.
Illegal Bracing and Non-standard Color.
But it still does have the Original VIN tag and Silver nameplate.
Mine is similar but retains original sunburst color...bowl/top is new and updated electronics...but it is so fine now and was totaled before! |
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June 2005
Posts: 1320
Location: Round Rock, TX | originally posted by fillhixx:
In fact, you may not be YOU at all as all your cells are probably less than 10 years old....so, when did you stop being you? When the IRS started looking for me. :cool: |
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How much can you change a horse before.....
